Chapter 2 - Kayla #2
I thought he was the one. I thought he was my soulmate. My forever person.
We were together for five months, and as stupidly pathetic and naive as it sounds, I honestly thought he was going to propose to me.
But instead, he broke me in half. He shattered me. That man absolutely destroyed me.
He pushed me away so fiercely, so coldly, that for months I wasn’t even a fraction of the person I used to be. In fact, that person never came back. She was too soft. She was too weak and too trusting.
I think what made it a hundred times worse was that only days after he acted like a complete sociopath when he broke up with me, I found out I was pregnant.
Twelve weeks along.
Carrying twins.
It was like the nightmare was never going to end.
But I scraped myself together and moved to California, because it was the only way I could escape everything and anything to do with those memories of him. It was the only way that I could survive.
Being pregnant with twins, alone, in a new city, was a whole different challenge, and there were so many nights when I just sat alone in bed and sobbed until I couldn’t breathe.
Of course, the challenges continued when the twins arrived prematurely. I wasn’t ready in any way. Thank goodness Izabel was with me, because I thought I was going to die.
It’s like my life was running in one big circle of hell, a circus of tricks and taunts and never-ending disruptions.
I fought hard for stability and normalcy. And it took a very, very long time to find it.
It was a year ago that I started thinking about moving back to Chicago.
It always felt like home to me in a way that California didn’t.
I wanted to come back, but I was scared of facing the memories of him.
I was also scared of being in a city where the possibility of bumping into him on a random afternoon was actually very real.
But as time went on, that yearning grew. And so did my inner strength and my faith in my own ability to handle things. I’m stronger. I’m wiser. I’m harder.
And my twin girls were doing so incredibly well that I finally decided to do it.
And here I am.
In Chicago.
Still terrified, but also really excited.
My phone rings and I scramble to find my purse so I can answer it.
“This is Kayla speaking,” I say professionally.
“Kayla, this is Mark at Raven Inc., following up on your interview this morning,” he says.
My heart does a somersault.
“Hi Mark, how can I help you?” I ask, my heart racing a hundred miles an hour.
“We would like to offer you the job. I’ve emailed you a copy of the contract, which I believe you'll find to your satisfaction. However, if there's anything we’ve left out or something you wish to add or remove, please let me know and we can discuss it. Take your time going over the document, and if you’re happy with it, come in tomorrow to sign and finalize. ”
“Oh, this is amazing news, thank you so much. And if I am happy, when would you like me to start?” I ask, hoping my voice isn’t betraying my giddy excitement.
“Tomorrow you’ll sign and meet the CEO you'll be working alongside. Then officially you can start on Monday morning, since tomorrow is Friday. But you’re most welcome to come in and familiarize yourself with everything, take a look around, set up your office…
whatever you want to do tomorrow is up to you, after you’ve met the CEO, of course. ”
“That’s great. I’ll take a look and reply to the email. And then possibly see you around eight tomorrow?”
“Eight is perfect. I look forward to it.”
My hands shake as I stare at the phone. I can’t believe it. It actually happened.
Rushing to my laptop, I flick it open to read the contract.
Kira and Kelsey come running in to bring me more cookies. Thank goodness Stella managed to swap them out.
“I got sent a contract,” I grin at Stella.
“Are you serious? So quickly? That’s incredible! Let me get these two monsters out of the way for a bit…come on, girls, let’s go build that new LEGO dragon we got yesterday!” She ushers them away, and I turn back to my laptop.
The contract is actually more than I could have asked for. The benefits this company offers for single parents are astonishing compared to others I’ve seen, and the salary is more than I wanted. The hours are generous. I can’t believe it. It’s the perfect job. It’s everything I dreamt of.
Finally, all that bad luck and all those challenges are fading away. My good karma is finally finding me, and I can’t wait to see where all of this takes us.
***
At eight fifteen on Friday morning, I am in Mark’s office.
“Sign here, and here,” he says, pointing to the bottom corners of the contract I have already read twice. “And this one,” he says, pointing again.
My heart is so happy as I scribble my signature in thick black gel ink on the crisp white pages.
When we’re all done, Mark stands up and holds out his hand to shake mine.
“Welcome to Raven Inc.,” he smiles. “This is Bianca. She will show you around later, but for now she’s going to take you to meet the CEO.”
“Thank you, Mark. Have a lovely day,” I nod politely.
My heart races a little, and I take a deep breath. It’ll be okay. They hired me because I am good at what I do. CEOs are just normal people like the rest of us.
Bianca smiles and gestures for me to follow her. She jumps right into business and starts explaining how Mr. Belov has a very specific routine and likes things a certain way.
“Belov?” I stammer, thinking it can't possibly be him. There must be any number of Belovs in this city, right?
“Right this way,” Bianca demands sternly, almost pushing me into the CEO’s immaculate glass-walled corner office. “Sir, your new analyst is here,” she announces before disappearing.
My head is spinning in disbelief.
I stare with my jaw open, not able to speak or even greet him.
Josiah is standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows wearing a pitch-black suit. His hands are in his pockets, and he is looking directly at me with those deep blue eyes that I still dream about on my worst nights.
He cocks his head to the side, and my eyes trace over his familiar face. The same, yet I no longer know this man. If I ever did…that’s a mystery for another day.
I try to speak, but my words come out as a jumbled mess.
Breathe, Kayla.
I stuck in a sharp breath and hold my chin up higher, pushing my shoulders back.
“Josiah…uh…Mr. Belov,” I correct myself.
He walks towards me, and my body feels like it’s in ice water. My skin aches, and my muscles refuse to move.
“Kayla, you haven’t changed at all,” he says smoothly. His voice is low and husky, and I notice how his eyes take their time to roam over me.
I bite my lip and tell myself to ignore how gorgeous he looks.
The same.
Better.
In my head, I’m at war with myself. Leave. You can’t work here. This is insane. Stay. He’s so beautiful. Do you remember the way his lips felt on yours.
In the end, it’s logic that wins. Because I am a different person.
“Josiah, I’m sure you realize that seeing you is unexpected. I had no idea you were the CEO I would be working with. Due to this new information coming to light, I must respectfully withdraw from the contract.” I speak clearly, sounding confident and strong, which I’m indescribably grateful for.
“Yes, I thought you might say something like that. Which is why I've taken some extra precautions.”
His eyes are cold as I stare into them, wondering what in the world he might be talking about.
“I don’t follow,” I snap, taking a step away from him. “I am not interested in working here, and I will no longer be accepting the contract.”
“The thing is, Kayla, that you and I are married.”
It’s such a ridiculous thing to say that I burst out laughing.
“Fascinating idea, but I am one hundred percent certain I would have remembered marrying you, Josiah,” I huff.
He walks over to his desk and picks up a piece of paper, handing it to me.
I glance at it, confused, bewildered, and wanting nothing more than to escape this room.
In my hand is a marriage certificate. On crisp white paper. With my signature at the bottom in thick black gel ink. The document clearly states that I am married to Josiah Belov.
The date is not today, though. It’s a month ago.
“What is this?” I demand, waving the document at him. “This isn’t real!”
He chuckles. It sounds dry, low, and edged with something dangerous.
“Oh, I assure you, it is very real and legally binding. I’ve already had the system doctored so that we are officially married and have been for a month.
You can try and contest it, but I’ll let you know ahead of time that I own this city, and nothing happens here without me allowing it to happen,” he says coldly.
“Josiah,” I gasp. “What are you doing? What is the point of this?”